28th October 2026 – (New York) US equities moved in different directions on Wednesday as investors awaited the Federal Reserve’s policy announcement at 2.00pm ET and a subsequent press briefing, alongside after‑hours results from Microsoft and Alphabet. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 inched higher, while the Nasdaq Composite drifted around the flat line, reflecting a cautious tone before fresh guidance on interest rates and corporate spending.
Momentum in semiconductors persisted after upbeat signals on artificial intelligence investment and stronger profitability at SK Hynix, lifting sentiment across the chipmaking cohort including Micron and Samsung. Traders also looked to a busy earnings slate featuring Ford, GE Vernova, T‑Mobile US, eBay, Chipotle Mexican Grill and ServiceNow for clues on consumer demand, capital expenditure and margin trends. With inflation still elevated, markets largely expected the Fed to keep rates unchanged, leaving the focus on the policy outlook and any indication of a hawkish bias.
